The Northwest region includes western parts of the Danube and Balkan natural areas -the area between the Iskar River in the east and Timok River in the west, between the Danube and the north ridge of the Balkan Mountains in the south.

The northern border is the Danube, where are built the ones of the most significant Bulgarian river ports - Lom, Vidin. There are also ferries Vidin-Calafat and Oryahovo-Beckett. On the Danube is also located NPP "Kozloduy, which increases the importance of the northern boundary of the region.

On the surface of the region there are different relief forms - parts of the Danubian Plain and Stara Planina, due to the diversity of geological structure.

Iron Ore; lead and zinc ores; copper ores; gypsum; limestone and marls.

Nortwestern region is situated in the moderate - continental climate area. The average July temperature is about - 26 ° C and the average temperature in January is around 0° C. The average annual precipitation amount in the plains and lowland parts of the region is between 500 and 600 mm.

Northwest region has got limited in quantity and quality water resources. With bigger importance are the rivers Iskar, Archar, Ogosta, Skat, Lom, and Tsibritsa River. Mineral waters of Varshets are a major factor in turning the town into a resort.

alluvial-meadow soils; typical and leached black soils; light gray and dark gray forest soils; brown forest soils; mountain meadow soils.

Settlements network in the Northwest region is composed of 398 settlements. 24 are towns and 374 are villages. The average population of the settlements in the region is 1491 people ( 1436 p.in towns and 665 p.in villages ) and it is lower than the national average. European route E79 passes through the region.

The region produces about 10% of the production sector. Leading sub – sector is plant – growing. The total area of arable land is 6 million acres. Over 67 % of them are occupied by cereals - corn, barley, oats, field peas, soybeans, canola.

Since the early 60 s many industria l facilities in the chemical industry, energy, industry of construction materials, food processing, engineering and others were built.

Cave Ledenika God's bridge

Northwest region includes three counties: Vidin, Vratsa and Montana. They join 32 municipalities.

The city is the largest settlement ( 64.2 thousand people), economic and cultural center of the region. Today Vratsa produces, machinery, furniture, cotton and silk textiles, food products.

Montana ( 47.4 thousand people) is the successor of the Roman city Montanezium. The city has а developed machine building, textile and knitwear industry and production of ceramic floor tiles.

Vidin (53,5 thousand people.) is one of the oldest Danubian Roman cities - Bononia. Today it is almost finished the second bridge over the Danube. Its modern appearance is determined by the production of water pumps, machines for agriculture,drywall.

On the territory of the region there are: 316 secondary and high schools, where study about students; 20 hospitals where are about 6500 beds; 6 theaters, 15 cinemas, 18 museums, 366 community centers and 678 libraries.

Rapid depopulation and people aging. High level of unemployment. Environmental problems caused by industry in the region.

Modernization of NPP. Optimization of the transport on the Danube. Investing in tourism. Modernization of Agriculture.

Building - Danubian Bridge 2 -7-th reactor of NPP Kozloduy -Solar energy park Food industry -meat processing -milk processing Textile -Cloth Factory Agriculture in the region -Plants for producing bio-diesel (canola) Services -Lawyers -Accounting -Automobile showrooms